Victims Should Come First 8 July 2014

From the 1st October 2014, Police and Crime Commissioners will
be responsible for commissioning the majority of victims' services
locally through a budget from the Ministry of Justice - those
services that help victims of crime to cope and recover from the
impacts of crime.

At the first Summit in January 2013, the Commissioner asked how
joined-up services for victims were, and how organisations working
with victims could work together to support the Commissioner in the
development of victims services. Since that time, the
Commissioner has been working with voluntary and community
organisations to prepare for the change from national to local
commissioning. You told us that you would like a West
Midlands Victims Commission made up of representatives from the
voluntary and community sector to be the body that makes decisions
on priorities, service delivery and allocations of funding. We have
been working to make that happen. During May 2014, we held a
series of consultation workshops, in partnership with the Voluntary
Sector Councils in each of the 7 local authority areas and we will
be reporting back on the outcome of that consultation.

The Commissioner is now consulting on the future
commissioning models for services for victims for crime.
Click here to get
involved.

This event included:

a key note address from Keir Starmer QC, who has led an
enquiry into changing the law to give further protection to victims
in cases of rape and child abuse

launch of the West Midlands Victims Commission

listening to real life experiences from victims of crime

hearing Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes from West
Midlands Police updating us on the Force response to dealing with
victims of crime.

From national to local:
Consultation on commissioning of services for victims of crime

Commissioning of services for victims of crime transfers to
Police and Crime Commissioners in October 2014, with new provision
in place by April 2015. Following earlier consultation and
engagement, the Police and Crime Commissioner is proposing the
creation of a Victims Commission. This consultation
considers four options for how the Victims Commission will
work.